Caster



;;I-. 12, 1950 A. E. RICE. ETAL 2,521,948

CASTER Filed Dec. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN I EN TORS Sept. 12, 1950 A. E. RICE ETAL 2,521,948

CASTER Filed Dec. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fl. 5. 6; BY 4/. a; fix

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 .t

PATENT, 252311948 I Y v v ."o'As'rEi f I A Albert E. nice and Adelb'ert F. rise, J Cleveland, Ohio 3 i I I H Application Decemberil5, 1947. Serial No. 791.690 I "'5'Claims'r (01. 16-215 This invention embodies certain novel im provements in casters of the anti-friction bearing type.

.-Among the objects of this invention are to. provide a high strength structure for the frame- 5 or yoke member of the caster in connection with: peculiarly formed anti-friction bearing race members united thereto; to provide a novel as-- semblage of said race members; to employ highly rigid connections between one of the race mem- 1 bers and the frame in which the wheel is mounted, and to similarly make provisions for similar rigid connections intermediate other race parts and the caster stem or pintle, all conducive to afiord-- ing a caster unit of the most sturdy character,

capable of withstanding, without bending or distortion, the great amount of wear and tear incident to diversified conditions of service and use inmanydifierent fields. I

-Other detail features of novelty of the 'inven-i tionwill be apparent on reference to the-following detailed description, and the accompan ing drawings, in which certain preferred formsof the invention are disclosed. I

"In the annexed drawings:

through my caster structure about on the line-- il'of l 'igure 3. I

Figure 2 is a view of the caster in rear elevation'.

Figure'3 is a bottom plan view of thecaster with the'wheel thereof partially broken'away in order to disclose more .fully the bearing structure.

Figure4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but H1118? trating a modification of my invention in which the bearing parts are largely made from stamp ings.

Figure 5 is a view similar toFigures 1 andi," showing my caster construction as made from 40 stampingsand provided with an attachment plate inlieu of the stem. or pintle, the casterbeing designed in this construction primarily for indus- 1 trial or heavy duty usage. 2

'Referring to the adaptationv of our invention .5

as disclosed y gures 1 to 3 of thedrawings, it

is noted that, as is customary, the caster com prises the-usual three mainmembers, including the frame or yoke l,- the pintle 2 forming the caster stem, and the roller or wheel 3 iournaled 59...

pose there are provided the ball bearings 5 whi fi-I l: are mounted between the outer race member 6, the'lower inner race member Land the upper inner. race member 8.- I

The outer race member 6 consists of a cylindrical body portion or ring formed on its inner thereof. The body of the member 6 is reduced atits upper portion to provide a sleeve extension lflwhich passes through an opening in the cross member II which connectsthe sides of the framev 1 similar to common practice. It is noted that the sleeve extension In onthe outer race member 6,-

however, is flanged or swaged over the upper side of the cross part II ofthe frame I, thereby to.

' As seen well inFigure l, the upper inner race member 8 consists'of a solid body which sur v rounds the lower reduced end portion 2a of the stem .orpint1e2. .-At itslower endportion the member 3 is cut away in an-rannularly bevelled.

manner to provide the upperportion i2 of the inner raceway. Be1ow the inner upper race r k memberB is -the-inner lower'race member 1- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken} previously mentioned, the latter being annularly or circumferentially bevelled: as at iZa to provide ball bearing '5. The lower inner race member I is of somewhat inverted cup-like form and its. upper end isfiapped to contact with the lower flapped ends of-the member 8; The stem or pintle Zpasses through an opening in the lower inner race member 1 after the-manner of its passing through the-central opening of the race member 8. Above the race member 8 is located the guard plate or washer member i3 which overhangs the spaeebetweenthe sleeve extension I!) and the outeivperiphery of the body of; the race member 8. The plate is has a central opening enabling it tobe mounted also on the-reduced end portion 2aofthestem2.-

- The manner of assemblingthe parts; as seen in Figure -1 may now be set fortht It will be.as-" sumed; that the outer race-member has been assembled upon the-frame l of the caster by having the reduced: sleeve extension It! passed through an opening in thecros member H of the frame I, after which, by application otpres-v sure of a suitable die or machine,the upper end of the portion iii of the race member 8 will be, swaged outwardly to overlie the-part H of the] frame and become rigidly connected therewith incidental to the pressure operation. Next the. platerit will be emplaoed .on cthe reduced port 2a of the latter. With the balls 5 and the race member 8 sodisposed :on the stem'2, the"lower race memberl'will nextbe applied to the stem' 2 at the free extremity of the portion 2a and thereupon the stem will be peened over at its" end adjacent to th raceways as shown at l4, whereby to very tightly and rigidly connect the parts 1, 8, and 13 to the portion 2a o'f thepte'm; 35

Under these conditions, of course, the balls s-win be retained in the raceways providedhythemem hers I and 8, and 6. Care will of course be exercised in the assembly operation not to clamp'the balls against movement. in the raceways of the members 8, 1, and 6, but permit of free movement of said balis; I The structure thus assen'rbled rea'uy "for use, it will be understood that the *swiveliin'g operation of the frame o'f the caster'relativeiy to the sters. 2 will be obtained' incident 'to 'the immobility oi the stem in thep'ocket in "which 7 it is introduced and the" free swiveliing-of rotative movement of the -frame nicving with i the outer race member 6 whilst the inner-race members" 1' *aridii and the plate I 3 remain stationary the stem 2.

In Figure- 'i-of the drawings there is illustrated amodifieaticnof the inverition in which-the parts are very similarto'those previously described but are made"largeiy'irom metal stampings. 'In" this modification, to all intents an'd 'pm'pcses,'*the overlying -p1ate [31 0i the Figure 1 construction and the upper iiiner ball race member are practically made inlone'unit consisting of a cup-like stamping 95 having the upper outer flange I8 and the downwardly and inwardly contracted upper portion by--suitable spreading action Ito overlie 'at zl -the adjacent cross portion of the frame '22. The upper portion of the ring-like bodypomposing the outer race member 59 is swaged outwardly 'SOJBIS fiO overlie the opening in"thecross member of'th frame 22 in which it is mounted, as shown at 2|, and by pressure the said portion 2 l,=swaged outwardly, is pressed into clamping engagement with the adjacent portion of the cross'member of the frame'22 at the opening'throu'gh which thememiber I 8 passes. In the above manner the outer race member l s is united, practicallyspeaking'to the'cross portion of the frame 22in substantially the 'same way as the member E'of-FigureI isunited-to'the portion H of the frame l'illust'rated therein.

'The general method of assemblage of the parts inFigure 4 is the same 'as inFigures l to "3 construction. In Figure 4, however, the pintle or stem 23 is *lorme'd with a head 24 spaced from its lower end, from which head extends a reduced portion 25 on which the race ,parts 15, I9, and are assembled, the lower extremity of thereduce'd part 'being peened .over as at ZBi'n amanner correspondingto-the portion :4

. 4 of Figure 1, and for the same purpose. Thus, the parts l5 and 20- are united to the stem 23 rigidly and the race member I!) is united to the frame 22 rigidly. The action of the caster is the same in the construction of Figure 4 as in the construction depicted in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. InFigure 4 the wheel is designated 21 and'its cross boitishart ze.

Figure 5 illustrates the adaptation of my caster construction for industrial or heavy duty purposes. In this instance the pintle or stem is dispensed with and the attachment plate 29 is employed suitably apertured for passing thereithroughaof attachment screws or the like. In *this-construction stampings are used similarly .to ,thQse --in.Figure. 4, as shown, and as distinguished 'fro'm themachined steel parts employed in' the construction of Figures 1 to 3 for the raceways. At the .central portion thereof the attachment plate 29, see Figure 5, is provide'd with a i downwardly 'projecting '-cyliniinical extension cil of hollow form, the lower I= end per tion of which is curved to provide the innerI-ba'll raceway 3!, -the"holl'ow porti on' of iwhich races outwardly; Ir'i this constructi-on the outer race 32 is made similarly l to the' race memb'er 19 of Figure 4 in itisrreheder spread at its uppen outwardly curved iian'ge -portion' fiii to "overlie the cross member-of the' 'frameifl, sai'd 'crcss-r memberbeing designated 35. "In this construetion', howeverg 1 the cress member of the frame? is rolled at the openingthrough' which :the race-" ways extend 'in a rdownward manner to provide.

I the downward iiange 33-5 which rreinforces on strengthens the erc'ss' member ofrtheframe 34 at the 'open portionthrcugh which the racewaysare :mounted In this instance the inner zraceway is o, single unit es distinguished from the double unit form in Figures' 'laandfl,zanditherballs 3? "are mountedi between? the inner race:member cross part as in Figurelfiaan'dnsdn:Figure 4 achieves the functioncof 'reiriforcingrthe-rframe in same manner'as achieved-in :the Figm-ef 1 construction, f additionally, Einrcegard r to l the Figure 5 construction, the rollin'geof'ith'einpper" 'rticn ofthe irameeeminwardiy at the opening receiving the outer race member 32 renders this" part of fithe iframe mutually reinforcing respect istolthe-iportioh *32 prime-ca member :eiforesa-i -'According to thei'Figuresfjvconstruction,

the crimping or swaging of the upper portion-20f 'rthefliiae'itnen'iberiiiz as at iiil will bef thewlast operation performed "after cassembling: the tb'ai-lf bearings between rthe race 1 members 3 I wand 32.

By the several types of construction of caster. which'mre =aboue iiescrihed'eand which are1iii'ustra-ted in tlre drawings ituvillrtbe perceived "that the race passes, but'i's hun'g 'from"the crosspcrtion or "the frame and the body or the 1 irierzilz ier 6 fits --closei;y to aha-swimming walls {of the frame and *aiford's rein'iorcingrigidity 'at s e-n wailsas seen on'reiference twi igures 1 and 4;

the frame sides f proieti'ng"downwardly outw ard of-th'eracemember TIt is important-'that the leveljoi the anti-ffrictionballs isfbelow-thef crdss' portion "ofth'e "frame. "The *reiriforcingdn' the structure of Figure 5 is through the in-rolled flange 35. The strength of the whole caster race and frame assembly is thus greatly enhanced.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

In a caster, in combination, an attachment member, inner race means carried thereby; a frame comprising sides and a cross portion conmeeting the sides, the cross portion having an opening through which the inner race member upwardly projects, outer race means including an outer race member having its upper portion passing snugly through said opening md ofiset outwardly above its race portion to engage over the cross portion at the opening to reinforce the latter, the sides of the frame engaging closely the outer side of the outer race member and projecting downwardly outward of the outer race, and anti-friction bearings between said race members below the cross portion of the frame.

2. A caster as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame at the periphery of said opening is curved on itself to provide a rolled edge to engage and reinforce the outer race member.

3. A caster as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame at the periphery of said opening is curved on itself in a direction inwardly and downwardly to engage and reinforce the outer race member.

4. A caster as claimed in claim 1, in which the 0 attachment member is formed with a downwardly projecting hollow extension inside the outer race member, said extension being formed with race means providing the inner race for the bearings.

5. In a caster, in combination, a stem, a roller supporting frame comprising an upper cross portion and downwardly extending sides, a roller journaled in said sides, an inner race member, the frame cross portion having an opening vertically therethrough through which the lower portion of the inner race member passes downwardly to a point so that its race is below the cross portion, an outer race member passing snugly through said opening and having its upper end interlockingly hung from the cross portion at such opening, and the walls of the frame below the said opening closely surrounding and engaging the outer side portion of the outer race, the upper end of the outer race being out-turned over the frame cross portion at the opening of the latter to establish said interlocking connection, the races of both race members being located below the cross portion of the frame, and ball bearings between the race members.

ALBERT E. RICE. ADELBERT F. RICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 672,566 Neuberth et a1 Apr. 23, 1901 1,913,056 Kilian June 6, 1933 1,923,211 Jarvis Aug. 22, 1933 2,140,403 Johnson Dec. 13, 1938 

